148002018-01-10Asteroid and Lava Tube In Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU) Prospecting Free FlyerALTIP Free FlyerCompletedMar 2014Apr 2015<p>This project seeks to develop a small free flyer that can be used to safely and effectively prospect on an Asteroid while being controlled by the crew. This will enable the characterization of the Asteroid for the&nbsp;<strong>In Situ Resource Utilization</strong>&nbsp;(<strong>ISRU</strong>). Lava tubes can be explored remotely from the outside.</p><p>Asteroids can contain vast amounts of resources such as water for propellants and metals for feed stocks. Lava Tubes on Mars and the Moon may contain frozen volatile resources. Before the resources can be used, they must be found with a prospecting method.&nbsp;</p><p>The NASA Agency Asteroid Grand Challenge seeks new ideas for Asteroid retrieval mission technologies for exploration and utilization of asteroids in a Distant Retrograde Orbit (DRO).</p><p>This project will develop a small free flying platform that can be used to safely and effectively prospect on an Asteroid with limited autonomy while being controlled by the crew. This will enable the characterization of the Asteroid for ISRU.&nbsp; Lava tubes can be explored remotely from the outside as well using this same technology.</p> <p>A small free flyer or even multiple small free flyers are a low risk solution for prospecting and sampling an asteroid, or other Near Earth Objects (e.g. Comets).&nbsp; An evolved application is flying into Mars and lunar lava tubes to look for resources, map the sub surface cavities and acquire samples. Instead of risking a highly expensive main spacecraft bus in a rendezvous asteroid landing, the small free flyer can be used as a secondary spacecraft. The Rosetta mission recently demonstrated how difficult it is to autonomously land on a small body.&nbsp; A small free flyer would have less inertia and be easier to control.&nbsp; The trend in modern spaceflight is towards miniaturization, as electronics and other components shrink in size and mass. The small size also has advantages in terms of maneuverability and access.&nbsp; Multiple small free flyers could provide redundancy and increase mission success probabilities, since an anomaly could be quickly corrected through the use of a second small free flyer.</p><p>By prospecting and sampling multiple locations on an Asteroid or lava tube, then geologic mapping and resource characterization is enabled.&nbsp; The crew can control such free flyers with tele-operation without risking direct contact with an extremely dusty or hard to access surface locations. The first step in ISRU is prospecting and characterization of the accessible resources and this will lead to massive risk reduction for actual ISRU in follow- on missions.</p><p>By prospecting and sampling multiple locations on an Asteroid or lava tube, then geologic mapping and resource characterization is enabled.&nbsp; The crew can control such free flyers with tele-operation without risking direct contact with an extremely dusty or hard to access surface locations. The first step in ISRU is prospecting and characterization of the accessible resources and this will lead to massive risk reduction for actual ISRU in follow- on missions</p> <p>Commercial space companies can mine resources in space to provide viable products which will start a new space economy.</p>22332394Robotics and Autonomous Systems32754.2Mobility35794.2.2Below-Surface Mobility32457Human Exploration Destination Systems32937.1In-Situ Resource Utilization324911Modeling, Simulation, Information Technology and ProcessingCenter Innovation Fund: KSC CIFSpace Technology Mission DirectorateKennedy Space CenterKSCNASA CenterKennedy Space CenterFLEmbry Riddle Aeronautical University - Daytona CampusAcademicHoneybee Robotics, Ltd.IndustryNew YorkNYFloridaTherese GriebelRobert P MuellerRobert P MuellerMichael Dupuis24256Asteroid Prospector Flyer TestVideohttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CYjfI7ffF6w22096Drones in Space! NASA's Wild Idea to Explore Mars (Video)Storyhttp://www.space.com/30155-nasa-drones-on-mars-video.html22010Extreme Access Flyer to Take Planetary Exploration AirborneStoryhttp://www.nasa.gov/feature/extreme-access-flyer-to-take-planetary-exploration-airborne/21775Free Flyer for ISRU Asteroid ProspectingImageThis small marsupial free flyer is designed to capture samples at an Asteroid for ISRU prospecting purposes.s 16589https://techport.nasa.gov/file/1658945783122094NASA Is Building Drones To Search For Resources On The Moon And MarsStoryhttp://www.techtimes.com/articles/74441/20150805/nasa-is-building-drones-to-search-for-resources-on-the-moon-and-mars.htm22095NASA Wants This Gas-Jet Drone to Find Resources on the Moon and MarsStoryhttp://gizmodo.com/nasa-wants-this-gas-jet-drone-to-find-resources-on-the-1722194987